DAYLIGHTING IN CLASSROOMS

{short description}

SEVENTH & EIGHTH SEMESTERS

B. ARCH DISSERTATION

Interim Report

Submitted by
{TESSA ALEXANDER}
{Reg.No:17054032}

MANGALAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

PARAMPUZHA, PERUMBAIKKAD P.O.
Kottayam – 686028

{December 2021}
 DAYLIGHTING IN CLASSROOMS

SEVENTH & EIGHTH SEMESTERS

B. ARCH DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture of Mahatma Gandhi University

Submitted by
{TESSA ALEXANDER}
{Reg.No:17054032}

Guided by
Ar. {GOPIKA AJITH}

MANGALAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

PARAMPUZHA, PERUMBAIKKAD P.O.
Kottayam – 686028

December 2021
 May 2022

MANGALAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

PARAMPUZHA, PERUMBAIKKAD P.O.
Kottayam – 686028

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this dissertation titled Daylighting in classrooms is a bonafide record of
the study presented by Tessa, under our guidance towards partial fulfillment of the requirement
for the award of Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture of Mahatma Gandhi University, during
the year 2022.

GUIDE PRINCIPAL
Ar.Gopika Ajith, Ar. K.Narayanan
Asst./Asso. Professor, Professor,
Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning, Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning,
Kottayam Kottayam

EXAMINERS



 DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the dissertation titled Daylighting in classrooms was carried out by me
during 2018-19 in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Bachelor’s Degree in
Architecture of Mahatma Gandhi University. This dissertation is my own effort and has not
been submitted to any other University.

Kottayam {Signature}
May 2022 Tessa
Abstract of the Study

Day lighting is the controlled admission of natural light, direct sunlight, and diffused-skylight
into a building to reduce electric lighting and saving energy.Day lighting refers to the use of
sunlight ,skylight and overcast sky illumination to provide functional interior lighting that is
appropriate to specific programmatic areas and comfortable to the occupant.

Daylight can be defined as the combination of all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime,
which is incorporated as an architectural treatment for energy savings. The components of a day
lighting system are designed to bring natural light into a building in such a way that electric
lights can be dimmed or turned off for a portion of the day, while preventing occupant
discomfort or other building loads from increasing.

In educational buildings, daylight may play an important role in student statues in respect to their
mode, health and level of productivity. Achieving good concept for natural lighting and aware of
different tasks in the classroom that are affected by natural light is critical because every task
requires specific lighting conditions.Proper integration of natural lighting into built-up space
increases the value of space. The spaces look larger, and large openings let the natural flow of
greenery inside the building. Proper control of sunlight through openings can also enhance the
quality of interior decorations.

Daylight in classrooms has an essential effect on the learning environment. The careful
introduction of daylight into educational buildings reduces operating costs, improves students
vision and perception, and contributes to students’ health, comfort, and productivity. In general,
classrooms should get as much daylight as possible, although designers must control the
illumination of areas within the students’ fields of vision. Effective use of daylight in classrooms
can help educational buildings realize significant energy savings, increase students' attendance,
demonstrate environmental responsibility, and provide a better environment in which students
can learn.
SYNOPSIS
AIM
The primary goal of the study is to understand the design guidelines used for the
proper natural lighting conditions in a classrooms.The study involves the analysis
of a classroom and provide solutions to improve its daylight provisions.

OBJECTIVE
-To understand the parameters and principles regarding daylighting features in classrooms.

-To understand the role of daylight design in classrooms.

-To study the techniques that used to improve the daylighting in classrooms.

-A classroom is analysed and suitable solutions are provided inorder to implement proper
daylighting.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The study is focused on daylighting in classrooms.Comfortability of the students is not included

in the study.The parameters in the study can be used in the design of daylighting conditions in
classrooms.
Chapter 1
Introduction to the study

Natural lighting has been the main source of lighting in buildings for centuries until the late
nineteenth century when artificial lighting got invented. Also, artificial light was not used widely
in buildings during the daytime until the 1950s (Phillips, 2004).Direct sunlight might be too
intense and produce glare conditions and excessive heat gain.Providing the appropriate level of
illumination, with uniform distribution of light with ungeared effect are essential for comfortable
classroom indoor environment.

Lighting of classroom should be in the level that is sufficient for student activities such as
writing and reading on the study tables and blackboards or boards on the wall. Glare control is a
key consideration in the classroom, particularly in the direct sunlight penetration to
classrooms.While high levels of daylight in a classroom provided via large windows and
skylights are optimum, they still need to be controlled to avoid the excessive glare that can come
from direct sunlight.One important aspect to consider when controlling glare and contrast is the
orientation of the windows(Velux,2018). Larger expanses of glazing should ideally be facing
north, in order to allow diffused daylight to penetrate as much as possible throughout the
day/year.Using natural light or daylight for illumination is one of the hallmarks of a high-
performance building. In addition to the benefits of supplying substantial light for free, natural
light provides great physical and psychological benefits to the building's occupants(Kibert,2009).
Daylighting is the practice of using natural light to provide illumination in interior
environments.The study here examines a typical classroom in terms of daylight.
Chapter 2
Background Study

Day lighting-- the practice of utilizing natural light within a building, requires careful planning to
balance heat gain and loss, control glare, and adjust for variations in daylight availability.

Principles of effective natural lighting in classrooms:

(Phillips, 2004)

ORIENTATION:

The advantages of the orientation and configuration:

-Greater natural light that is easily controlled.

-Daylighting can produce lumens with half the heat of fluorescent fixtures.

-Maintenance cost of electric lighting is reduced.

-Solar gain for heating season.

FORM OF THE BUILDING:

 51% area is in full daylight

 33% area is in partial daylight

 16% area has no daylight

 Longer buildings are

better,especially when placed
in east west axis

 59 % area is in full daylight

 41% area is in partial daylight

 Adding central open

space for buildings gives
100% daylight inside the
building
WINDOW HEIGHT AND LOCATION:

The quantity and quality of daylight illumination in side-lit rooms is affected to an extent by the
light reflected from floors, walls and ceilings, which will augment light coming directly through
windows.

The tall, narrow windows provide good penetration of daylight into rooms that may be enhanced
by the reflection from walls.Windows in adjacent walls give good penetration and reduce glare
by lighting the area of wall surrounding the adjacent window.Several smaller windows are better
than one large one, not only because, from the energy-saving point of view, for the same heat
loss there’s a better distribution of light, avoiding gloom–glare extremes, but also for quality.

General Principles of window design to afford Good Daylighting

(IS 2440-1975)

1. Generally, while taller windows give greater penetrations, broader windows give better
distribution of light. It is preferable that some area of the sky at an altitude of 20 degrees to 25
degrees should light up the working plane.
2. But broader windows may also be equally or more efficient provided their sills are raised by
30 cm to 60 cm above the working plane. Such raised sills will not cut the outside view
appreciably and afford in most situations, valuable wall space within easy reach, especially in
schools and hospitals where it may be utilized to carry electric wiring etc.

3. For a given penetration, a number of small windows properly positioned along the same,
adjacent or opposite walls will give better distribution of illumination than a single large window.

4. Unilateral lighting from side windows will in general be unsatisfactory if the effective depth of
the room is more than two to two-and-a half times the distance from the floor to the top of the
window.

5. Windows on two opposite sides will give greater uniformity of internal daylight illumination
especially when the room is 7 m or more. across. They also minimize glare by illuminating the
wall surrounding each of the opposing windows. Side windows on one side and clerestory
windows on the opposite side may be provided where the situation so requires.

6. Cross lighting with windows on adjacent walls tends to increase the diffused lighting within a
room.

7. Windows in deep reveals tend to minimize glare effects.

8.Windows shall be provided with chajjas, louvers, baffles or other shading devices to exclude,
as far as possible, direct sunlight entering the room. Broad and low windows are, in general,
much easier to shade against sunlight entry. Direct sunlight when it enters increases the inside
illumination very considerably. Glare will result if it falls on walls at low angles, more so than
when it falls on floors especially when the floors are dark coloured or less reflective.

9. Light control media should be provided, either fixed or movable, outside or inside, especially
in the upper portions of the window. The lower portions are usually left clear to afford desirable
views.

10. Design should be such that in addition to direct illumination vision should be made for
diffuse lighting by internal reflections.
11. To ensure a good level of diffused lighting, all internal surfaces should be light coloured and
have good reflectance. (Christopher, 1990)

OVERHEAD DAYLIGHTING:

Glass roof tile- Traditional system of skylighting

NORTH LIGHT ROOF

They allow maximum benefit to be gained from natural lighting by the use of glazing on the
steeper pitch which generally faces north or north-east to reduce the solar gain.The main reason
behind constructing these roofs is to increase the amount of natural light entering the room while
minimizing glare and preventing excess heat.Not suitable for heavy rain or snowfall areas

Since sawtooth roofs feature lots of valleys, slopes, and windows, they are more likely to leak
after heavy rain or snowfall.

These types of roofs are prone to rusting because of the trapped water.To overcome this problem,
consider using high-quality roofing materials that can withstand adverse weather.
Chapter 3
Literature Reviewed/Data Collection

Lighting Terminology:

(National building code)

Orientation of Buildings

In the case of non square buildings, orientation refers to the direction of the normal to the long
axis. For example, if the length of the building is east-west, its orientation is north- south.

Glare

Effect of brightness/ brightness differences within the visual field which carries discomfort.

A condition of vision in which there is discomfort or a reduction in the ability to see significant
objects or both due to an unsuitable distribution or range of luminance or due to extreme
contrasts in space and time.

Illuminance

The unit of illuminance (the measurement of illumination) is lux which is 1 lumen per m2

Illumination: Represented by E.

Luminous flux reaching it perpendicularly per unit area.

Total output of light Unit : Lumen/m2 or lux

Lux is the intensity of illumination produced in the inner surface of a hollow sphere of radius

one metre by a standard candle at the centre.

Light meter –Measure illuminance

At a point on a surface, the ratio of the luminous flux incident on an infinitesimal element of the
surface containing the point under consideration to the area of the element.

Luminance

Luminance measure the brightness of surface .

Lumens emitted by a luminous surface of 1 sqm.

(At a point of a Surface in a Given Direction) (Brightness) The quotient of the luminous

intensity in the given direction of an infinitesimal element of the surface containing the

point under consideration by the orthogonally projected area of the element on a plane

perpendicular to the given direction.

The unit is candela per square metre (cd/m2).

Luminous Flux (φ)

The amount of light energy emitted by a source in a given time. The flux of light emitted from a
luminous body is the energy radiated per second in the form of light waves.

Depends upon the luminous intensity.Represented by F.

Luminous intensity: Represented by I ,Unit : Candela cd ,Luminous intensity of a light source in

a given direction is the luminous flux given out by the light source per unit solid angle.

Solid angle: Angle subtended by an area r2 on the surface of sphere.Unit of solid angle=steradian

The quantity characteristic of radiant flux which expresses its capacity to produce visual
sensation evaluated according to the values of relative luminous efficiency for the light adapted
eye:

a) Effective Luminous Flux (φn) Total luminous flux which reaches the working plane.
b) Nominal Luminous Flux (φo) Total luminous flux of the light sources in the interior.

Source of Daylight:

The primary source of lighting for daylighting is the sun.

The light received by the earth from the sun consists of two parts, namely, direct solar
illuminance and sky illuminance.

Sky Component (SC)

The ratio (or percentage) of that part of the daylight illuminance at a point on a given plane
which is received directly from the sky as compared to the simultaneous exterior illuminance on
a horizontal plane from the entire hemisphere of an unobstructed clear design sky.

External Reflected Component (ERC)

Sunlight reflected from an exterior surface (building/walls) and then reaching the point
considered, known as the externally reflected component (ERC).

The ratio (or percentage) of that part of the daylight illuminance at a point on a given plane
which is received by direct reflection from external surfaces as compared to the simultaneous
exterior illuminance on a horizontal plane from the entire hemisphere of an unobstructed clear
design sky.

Internal Reflected Component (IRC)

The daylight reaching the reference point after reflections and inter-reflections from the surfaces
inside a room is known as internally reflected component.
The ratio (or percentage) of that part of the daylight illuminance at a point in a given plane which
is received by direct reflection or inter-reflection from the internal surfaces as compared to the
simultaneous exterior illuminance on a horizontal plane due to the entire hemisphere of an
unobstructed clear design sky.

Daylight Factor

Measure of natural daylight in a space.Amount of light in ratio at a given in a space inside.

The measure of total daylight illuminance at a point on a given plane expressed as the ratio (or
percentage) which the illuminance at the point on the given plane bears to the simultaneous
illuminance on a horizontal plane due to clear design sky at an exterior point open to the whole
sky vault, direct sunlight being excluded.

The sum of the three components gives the daylight factor:

DF = SC + ERC + IRC

DF = (Ei / Eo) x 100%

SC – Sky Component

ERC – Externally Reflected Component

IRC – Internally Reflected Component

As clouds form and move through the sky, the distribution of light can change almost minute by
minute. This means that we cannot really design for any specific distribution, but must rely on
'average' conditions.

• The Commission International de ‘Eclairage (CIE) has developed a series of mathematical

models of ideal luminous distributions under different sky conditions - of which the three most
common are clear, uniform and overcast

Recommended Daylight Factors for classroom is 1.9.

Recommended Illumination for classrooms is 300 lux.(IS 2440 - 1975)

CALCULATIONS

DF = SC + ERC + IRC

(IS 2440-1975)

SKY COMPONENT

Based on the table provided in IS2440-1975

CALCULATlON OF IRC

where W = window area;

C = a constant of value 78 when there is no external obstruction but it has different values when
there are obstructions;

Rfw = average reflection factor of the floor and those parts of the wall below the plane of the
mid-height of the window . (excluding· the window wall);

Rcw =average reflection factor of the ceiling and those parts of the wall above the plane of the
mid-height of the window (excluding the window wall);

A = area of all the surfaces in the room {ceiling walls, Boor and windows); and

R = the average reflection factor of .all :surfaces in the room (ceiling, walls, Boor and windows)
expressed as a decimal part of unity.

Light Reflectance Value is a measure of how much light is reflected from a coloured material. It
is given as a percentage where white has a value of 100% and black has a value of 0%.

ANALSIS GRID
Name Location Floor Window Clerestory WW Material Exterior
of the R &Surface obstruction
school reflectance

-Length -Area -Area -Wall -Trees

-Width -No. -No. -Floor -Building

-Window -Shading device

-Furniture